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LotusBlossom

In all this mess, at least I gained a new PP, which is nice, a few have gone completely quiet for various reasons, some are going through the blues and some other issues so I totally get that's part of it when writing to people in prison.  This one was not found on the WAP site, and I wondered if anyone had any experience with AZ phone calls, as after a few letters (at least in my personal experience) my PPs ask if we could say a hello on the telephone.   I didn't see a link about phone calls online, so if anyone can has one please comment or let me know the scoop!  Also are they a state with video visits available?  Thanks!


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LotusBlossom

Think things * 

 
LotusBlossom

SB, it took about ten days for me to get a reply so I think thinks are moving very very slow !  And I'm in the states, usually the turn around time is a bit quicker.  I think it's also that some places have started to quarantine mail and let it be sealed up for a few days, just a precaution with the virus going around.  Can't wait until this is all over and I hope you hear from your PP soon!

 
DarkBlue07

That's awesome! I haven't heard from my AZ pp in a couple weeks. We're still pretty new so I'm not sure if this is just his pace or if his mail is being delayed in the lockdown. 

 
LotusBlossom

Thanks again all, quick update: things are going great with my AZ pen pal, he says browning unit sucks and I make life a bit more interesting lol so I'm glad to hear that!  He is into telling me all about AZ and his culture so I'm a happy girl.  I went ahead and put my application in since it will take awhile and hoping to get Jpay and tablets soon there.

 
LotusBlossom

No worries, I'm not the type of person who gets upset over those things, the forum is for everyone!  Hope your pen pals are well and maybe down the line we can all chat more in email about our Arizona PP and loved ones, I find that a really beautiful state with a lot of interesting history and hope to learn more from my PP.

 
DarkBlue07

Yes, LotusBlossom, sorry to have taken over your thread :/

But I really do appreciate all the information! Thank you FarFromHome! My PP was in Barchey last week when i got his last letter, the two moves since I can't account for. There are no new reclassifications or disciplinary actions shown on his record. The letter I sent Monday was to the P.O. Box for the Barchey unit. Slowly but surely I'll get the hang of all this! I've done a little research on Lewis and it's been very disheartening, to be honest. 

 
Farfromhome

Yes, he'll still get your mail. At least, he should! 
Mine is on Barchey which is a level 3 yard (Medium Custody). 
The Azcorrections website is often quite glitchy. Has he been reclassified and/or received a disciplinary recently? It should tell you on the inmate database. 
I don't believe they're moving people around due to Covid-19, they are just locking them down more often due to staff shortages. 
I'm not entirely sure how they will manage their tablets. It tends to be different, prison to prison from my experience. 
I can tell you that they should have kiosks though. Usually these are needed for them to connect their tablets to in order to send and receive mail. Although they should be allowed their tablets on them all the time. So they can write and read them from their house. Video Visits aren't usually done from the tablets. They normally have to do them through the kiosks. 
If you download the Jpay app and add him, it will currently only give you the option to send money only. However once they get their tablets, it will change and give you the option to buy stamps and send emails. Each email costs one stamp (depending on the length) as do photos and ecards. You can transfer stamps to them and also send them credit for Media (Movies and Music and they can buy stamps themselves too). Or you can send a prepaid reply to you pp. If you do this option they can only reply to you. If you transfer stamps, they can use them to contact anyone on their jpay. 
Some people complain about Jpay but I personally love it. I'm in the U.K so it's a lot cheaper for me and a hell of a lot quicker than snail mail! 
The emails can be checked by the facility and if they get held back, they obviously take longer to get to the inmate. Although they're not supposed to hold it back longer than 2 days but I've had up to 5 days delay. 9/10 they're received within a few hours though. When you get really lucky, they sometimes just take minutes! 
Oh...they'll also be an option for you both to send 30 second Videograms. These cost around 3/4 stamps but it's a way of getting to see each other until they bring in video visitation!

 

Hope all that helps!

Let me know if you want anymore info on the complex though. 

Sorry, LotusBlossom...sort of gone ot on your thread! I wish we still had the private message option!

 

 
DarkBlue07

Thank you for the info! Sorry I'm very new to this and learning a lot from this forum. How does access to tablets work? I am not sure, I looked the other day and as of 3/27 he had been moved to Bachman, but when I looked just now it said he'd been moved again on 3/31. Still lists Lewis as the complex but no unit is named. Is it normal to be moved that frequently? Could it have anything to do with the lockdowns for coronavirus? Also I just mailed a letter on Monday, will he still get it if he's in a new unit? 

 
Farfromhome

Sorry, didn't spot the errors!

That meant to say "In fact Lewis don't even have their tablets yet"

 
Farfromhome

Hi there! No, Arizona aren't currently doing Video Visits on Jpay although I imagine this will eventually happen. 
min fact, Lewis do t even have their tablets yet. They were due them in mid-Dec but the DoC ran out of money for the installation so Keefe took over. 
They were told this week that they'll be getting them around April 5th but they've been telling them for months that they're about to get them, so we'll see!

Which Unit is your pp on!? Always nice to meet someone else writing to someone there!

 
DarkBlue07

Hello, I am new to writing and my PP is at Lewis in AZ. Do they have video visitation there as far as anybody knows?

 
Farfromhome

Also, so you're aware, the process can be quite slow. Usually up to 90 days to be approved 

 
LotusBlossom

Thanks Farfrom.  I appreciate all that info.  He's in Browning and I never wrote to anyone from there before.  Hopefully it pans out as a long term PP!

 
Farfromhome

Yeah, I don't believe Eyman have their tablets yet. 
They are apparently trialing Video Visits soon to roll out in the future. 
If you got to the Azcorrections website, you can apply for visitation through there, online, or you can print the application out. You only need to pay the $25 background check fee if you wish to be on their visitation list, not just phone calls. If you do have the option of video visits in the future, you will need to be on their visitation list to have them though. But you could always apply for calls now and then for visitation later on. I did that with my pp. 

 
LotusBlossom

Thanks Anne, he's at Eyman.  I didn't find him on this site so who even knows if it'll pan out!  You know how it goes, some people end up being great friends, others fade or it's not the right PP fit.  I did look on JPay but it said no messages available.  Hopefully they have video visits, or will get some in the future.  I won't have the time or money to travel for awhile so more video visits with PPs would be nice, I know they love them too.

 
Anne marie HH

You have to apply to have calls from AZ, you also have to pass a backgroud check, which can take a while, some facilities have jpay in AZ and some have video visits. Depends. Which unit is your pp then I'll be able to tell you more